Another sweet little quick read.
What would make your Christmas perfect? For Cassie Beaumont, it's
meeting her perfect match. Cassie, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids,
and so far, nothing's worked. Not blind dates, not the Internet and certainly
not leaving love to chance.What's
left? A professional matchmaker. He's Simon Dodson, and he's very choosy about the clients he takes on. Cassie finds
Simon a difficult, acerbic know-it-all, and she's astonished when he accepts
her as a client. Claiming he has
her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks to complete before she
meets him. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being a charity bell
ringer, dressing up as Santa's elf at a children's party and preparing a
traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (whom she happens to dislike).
Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all—and she's finally ready
to meet her match. But just like
the perfect Christmas gift, he turns out to be a wonderful surprise! (picture and description from Amazon)
Wondering if I will squeeze in another Christmas book or not. Tomorrow and Saturday I hope to finally rest from the craziness and finally watch as many Hallmark movies as possible!!
Happy Reading!
O:)
Melissa
Merry Christmas! Today I had the *distinct* pleasure of reading this entire book ~ in one day! My day started a little rough, a lingering migraine from yesterday (ugh!) but THANK THE GOOD LORD BABY JESUS it finally went away and I was able to enjoy the day with my sweet crazy family. Since I have three teenagers they literally didn't wake up and come downstairs until after 10:00, so I had a lot of time this morning to myself. [I was up at 5:30 with the migraine and couldn't go back to sleep ... ] Among other things like emptying the dishwasher, setting the Christmas Breakfast Table, catching up on my Christmas Advent Scripture Writing I started on this book. I had already read the first chapter in one of my other Debbie Macomber Christmas books so I was a little hooked.
Again, like reading a Hallmark movie [Surprise! It is one!] but loved it none the less.
Ashley Davison, a graduate student in
California, desperately wants to spend the holidays with her family in Seattle.
Dashiell Sutherland, a former army intelligence officer, has a job interview in
Seattle and must arrive by December 23. Though frantic to book a last-minute
flight out of San Francisco, both are out of luck: Every flight is full, and
there’s only one rental car available. Ashley and Dash reluctantly decide to
share the car, but neither anticipates the wild ride ahead. At first they drive in silence, but forced
into close quarters Ashley and Dash can’t help but open up. Not only do they
find they have a lot in common, but there’s even a spark of romance in the air.
Their feelings catch them off guard—never before has either been so excited
about a first meeting. But the two are in for more twists and turns along the
way as they rescue a lost puppy, run into petty thieves, and even get caught up
in a case of mistaken identity. Though Ashley and Dash may never reach Seattle
in time for Christmas, the season is still full of surprises—and their greatest
wishes may yet come true. (picture and description at Amazon)
I have one more Christmas book up my sleeve before I head back for regular books ... can you guess the author? :)
Merry Christmas!
O:)
Melissa
Another Debbie Macomber book ... that I love! And this one I started out loving right off the bat!
Seth Webster's heart never healed after he lost his adored wife. Now, with Christmas approaching, wild twin boys to raise alone, a home in chaos, and the latest in a long line of exasperated housekeepers quitting in disgust, Seth needs more than help to keep his family together ... he needs a miracle!
And then a miracle arrives on his doorstep. Her name is Mrs. Merkle, but the kids call her "Mrs. Miracle" --- and from the moment the warm, knowing, and very patient nanny appears, everything is different. Her sassy spirit is infectious, and it gives Seth the courage to approach Reba, a beautiful travel agent who's been hurt and betrayed, and is afraid to ever love again. Through the magic of faith --- and with a little help from a children's Christmas pageant and A LOT of encouragement from Mrs. Miracle --- Seth and Reba might just be able to find a Christmas miracle of their very own: true love. (picture from Amazon, description from back of book)
Another [surprise!] happy ending!
O:)
Melissa
For the companion book, Mr. Miracle, look here.
Wow but wow. Again, I started this book and thought I wouldn't like it, but it also was utterly amazing! The description doesn't accurately describe what it is about, so that threw me for a loop.
Basically, there was a book club of about 5 ladies who were all close to the leader Abby. They all felt like she held them together. Right after Thanksgiving Abby died in her sleep unexpectedly. She had made Christmas Angel ornaments for all the girls in the Book Club and her husband delivered them before he left town to visit his brother while he was mourning.
Each of the angels looked exactly like each girl and Abby had hidden a Bible verse she picked out specifically for them and tucked it in the ornament. The verse was precisely what each girl needed for their current situation.
Even though the are distraught, they decided that since Abby was such an angel to them, they should each go be an angel to someone else, or do something for someone else. Each girl ended up getting an idea dropped in her lap and they all helped each other out to accomplish their goals. They were all so excited and happy to do it they forgot about being sad about Abby passing away.
And so this book reminded me of the MOST AMAZING TRIP OF MY LIFE to Thailand for a mission event. Long story short, it was for women who were missionaries or expats or anyone just needing some loving on. We organized an incredible retreat with speakers, music, American food, fancy hotel, and workshops in fun stuff like makeup, crafting, journaling, I don't even remember all of them, but my dear friend Mendy and I did a session on scrapbooking. We also accumulated a boatload of free goodies to give to the ladies. To say they were overjoyed was an understatement. That trip was one of the highlights of my life, as I began to see how the passions and love God gave me could be used for His glory! It really started something within me to want to give everything away, to be able to "be an angel" for someone.
Read this book. Even if you don't like it at first, keep reading. And go be an angel for someone this season. Or this month. Or next year. YOUR life will also be changed. That is a 100% guarantee.
Keep reading!
O:)
Melissa
[book picture from Amazon]
So when I ran out of books on my Paperwhite to read, I decided ~ shock of all shocks ~ to go to the library for a hardback book. 😄 I quickly discovered more Debbie Macomber books and at first I was a little hesitant, but I just jumped in with this one and never put it down. Yes, it's like reading a Hallmark Movie, but still fun and clean and silly and sweet all at the same time.
Friendly and bubbly, Julia Padden likes
nearly everyone, but her standoffish neighbor, Cain Maddox, presents a
particular challenge. No matter how hard she’s tried to be nice, Cain rudely
rebuffs her at every turn, preferring to keep to himself. But when Julia
catches Cain stealing her newspaper from the lobby of their apartment building,
that’s the last straw. She’s going to break through Cain’s Scrooge-like
exterior the only way she knows how: by killing him with kindness. To track her progress, Julia starts a blog
called The Twelve Days of Christmas. Her first attempts to humanize Cain are
far from successful. Julia brings him homemade Christmas treats and the
disagreeable grinch won’t even accept them. Meanwhile, Julie’s blog becomes an
online sensation, as an astonishing number of people start following her
adventures. Julia continues to find ways to express kindness and, little by
little, chips away at Cain’s gruff façade to reveal the caring man underneath.
Unbelievably, Julia feels herself falling for Cain—and she suspects that he may
be falling for her as well. But as the popularity of her blog continues to
grow, Julia must decide if telling Cain the truth about having chronicled their
relationship to the rest of the world is worth risking their chance at love. (description and picture at Amazon)
Interestingly enough, this cover doesn't quite make sense to me. It is different than the library book I have ~ which I get ~ but this has two dogs on it and there was only one dog mentioned in the book. Hhm .... unless maybe another artist was using the dogs to symbolize Julie and Cain?
Already started on another Christmas book. Wasn't sure I would like it at first, but not too many pages in I was hooked again.
Happy Reading!
O:)
Melissa
Wow. Just wow.
It's been a while since I have read an amish book and my selection of Christmas books on my paperwhite was getting thin. I decided surely I could read this and it might not be too bad.
So chapter one starts and talks about Rachel Yoder (aren't all amish girls named Rachel Yoder? yawn.) and her little life situation. She has a daughter named Katie Yoder. (I was wrong. Only half of the amish girls are named Rachel Yoder, the other half are named Katie Yoder. double yawn.)
Then chapter two talks all about Ellie Lawrence in a big exciting job in big exciting NY and so I'm thinking, "Ok, this is going to be one of those where something happens and fancy Ellie has to go to Lancaster and learn how to do amish things ... blah blah ... "
Then chapter three starts and talks about an old nurse who married a doctor and the life they had, but on one fateful night everything changed, when THE DOCTOR SENT HOME THE WRONG BABY WITH THE WRONG PARENTS!!! Now for some of you that may start another snoozefest, but I have to admit once that revelation broke through I was trapped in this book! I could not put it down! I won't give away how Ellie and Rachel - and their birth parents/raised them parents - reacted to this news, but I was enthralled from that point on. I was sad to see it end and while the author has written other books, they are all stand alones. So this is one where I get to decide how I want it all to end ....
Raised in a Pennsylvania Amish community,
young mother Rachel Yoder has led a simple life within her close-knit family.
Widowed three years ago, she has moved back in with her parents, attempting to
raise her daughter, Katie, without further emotional upheaval. Meanwhile, four
hours and a whole world away in New York City, Ellie Lawrence is laser-focused
on a high-powered public relations career, with too little time for her family,
her friends, or even her boyfriend. Then one fateful day, these two very
different women receive shocking news of a mistake made three decades earlier
and long kept hidden: Shortly after their births, the two were accidentally
switched in the hospital. Shaken to the core by this momentous news, Rachel and
Ellie are plunged into an exploration of who they are and where they really
belong. While Ellie is eager to learn more about her Amish family and their
life in the countryside, Rachel cannot help but feel jealous as she watches the
only mother she has ever known bonding so easily with her natural daughter. But
Rachel also knows that her own biological family is out there, and with Katie
at her side she heads for Manhattan, where she establishes a connection with
the raucous, spirited Lawrences. As Ellie and Rachel make their way
through unfamiliar landscapes, they face life-altering challenges and grapple
with a crucial question: Will their old conventions and desires give way to new
customs and yearnings? With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, it takes
the love of two families for Rachel and Ellie to discover their own paths to
fulfillment and happiness. (picture and description from Amazon)
Highly recommend this one! And check out An Amish Gift, written by the same author, here.
O:)
Melissa
Sweet sweet story! After reading the last book I was ready for a little meat, a little more, and this one filled the order!
Speeding north through rural Maine, Eden Martelli wonders how
her life came to this—on the run with her mute five-year-old son dozing
fitfully in the passenger seat. When a breakdown leaves them stranded in Summer
Harbor, Eden has no choice but to stay put through Christmas . . . even though
they have no place to lay their heads. Beau
Callahan is a habitual problem solver—for other people anyway. He left the
sheriff’s department to take over his family’s Christmas tree farm, but he’s
still haunted by the loss of his parents and struggling to handle his first
Christmas alone. When Eden shows up looking for work just as Beau’s feisty aunt
gets out of the hospital, Beau thinks he’s finally caught a break. Eden is
competent and dedicated—if a little guarded—and a knockout to boot. But, as he
soon finds out, she also comes with a boatload of secrets. Eden has been
through too much to trust her heart to another man, but Beau is impossible to
resist, and the feeling seems to be mutual. As Christmas Eve approaches, Eden’s
past catches up to her. Beau will go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe.
But who’s going to protect his heart from a woman who can’t seem to trust
again? (picture and description from Amazon)
Earlier this year we read The Goodbye Bride, which is actually book #2 in this series. I sure hope she writes more, there are more brothers we need stories about!!
Wonder what Christmas book is next?
Happy Reading!
O:)
Melissa
